Army Chief to serve as CDF, CJCSC abolished, CNSC appointed for a period of 3 years with approval of Prime Minister
President Asif Ali Zardari. Photo: PID
President Asif Ali Zardari signed three laws related to the Pakistan Armed Forces, passed by both houses of Parliament under the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The President gave his assent to the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, making them Acts of Parliament.
صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری نے پاکستان آرمی (ترمیمی) بل 2025, پاکستان Date دے دی ہے۔@AAliZardari pic.twitter.com/7qDI2SAtjc
-PPP (@MediaCellPPP) November 15, 2025
Read: COAS Asim Munir will serve five years as CDF
As per the amendments to the Army Act, the Chief of the Army will also act as the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF). The mandate of the CDF will begin from the date of official notification. If a general is promoted to Field Marshal, he will serve under Subsection 2. The federal government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the Chief of the Army/CDF.
The bill abolishes the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) with effect from November 27, 2025. On the recommendation of the Chief of the Army/CDF, the Prime Minister will appoint the Commander of the National Strategic Command (CNSC) for a period of three years and establish the rules and conditions of the position. Re-election is permitted for another three years on the recommendation of the CDF, and such extensions cannot be challenged in court.
Read more: COAS Asim Munir’s tenure to be restarted after military command reforms
The amendments further provide that the retirement age, tenure in service and dismissal provisions under the Army Act will not apply to the CNSC, who will continue to serve in the Pakistan Army with the rank of General.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment represents a significant overhaul of Pakistan’s military command structure, redefining the hierarchy and responsibilities of senior military commanders.
The reforms aim to streamline decision-making, integrate multi-domain operations across the military, and improve coordination between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The changes follow years of debate over civil-military relations and come amid a broader push to modernize Pakistan’s defense framework.
These changes centralize operational authority in the FDC while enhancing the Prime Minister’s role in appointments, reflecting a major restructuring of Pakistan’s military command hierarchy under the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
